Australia bans penis puppetry

Puppetry of the Penis is facing its first ever stage ban - in its native Australia.

The full-frontal show has been performed to 400,000 people around the world, but a council in Queensland has refused to allow it to be performed in its civic theatres.

Pleas to Rockhampton council to reconsider have also fallen on deaf ears.

Some authorities have previously threatened to ban the show, featuring the art of 'genital origami', but always relented.

Executive producer Thomas Milazzo told the local paper The Mornign Bulletin: "The only previous negative responses came from New Zealand. We provided more background information and the decisions were reversed.

"It's stand-up comedy. There's no sex provocation or obscene language.
It's just a good, genuine laugh."

In a vox pop conducted by the paper, only one resident agreed with the ban. And a leader column condemned the decision for bringing bad publicity to the town.

The show is now so successful it performed by a four franchised teams of puppeteers.

But the original duo of David Friend and Simon Morley are to the Edinburgh Fringe this year.

The duo made their name in the 2000 festival, which led to a run in the West End, on Broadway, and around the world.

Morley said: "It is an honour to return and play once again to the people of Edinburgh who took us to their hearts and gave us our first big break."

And Friend added: "Two years ago we were playing in pubs to 40 or 50 people at time. Since then over 400,000 people have come to see this masterful art."

The show has since been performed in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and New York and to stars including Elton John, Naomi Campbell, Joan Rivers, Lulu, and Victoria and David Beckham.

The show will be on at Edinburgh's Gilded Balloon throughout August.

Published: 20 Jun 2002